Walt Disney World has revealed particulars about Lightning Lane lineup at EPCOT as soon as Check Monitor 3.0 debuts on July 22, 2025 and the way the traces will work for the reimagined trip. Questioning whether or not the new-look thrill trip can be Multi-Cross or Single Cross? Digital Queue or standby line? Trickle down results for Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After, or Soarin? We’ve bought you coated!
Let’s begin with the fundamentals, which is that Walt Disney World introduced that Check Monitor will formally open on July 22, 2025. So common ticket holders have to attend one other full month (nearly) earlier than taking a spin on the reimagined trip. In between every now and then, there can be a spread of previews and (hopefully) a number of days of soppy openings.
Imagineers together with groups from company alliance associate Chevrolet have reached again into historical past for inspiration from the unique World of Movement, and have introduced that spirit of optimism to the subsequent iteration of Check Monitor. They’re pushing innovation ahead and celebrating humanity’s enduring drive on the thrilling highway to a brighter tomorrow.
One massive query within the lead-up to Check Monitor 3.0 is whether or not it could use a digital queue or standby line. With Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind lastly dropping its digital queue after over one-thousand days and Check Monitor not needing a VQ beforehand, the reply to this in all probability appeared apparent.
However, Splash Mountain by no means wanted a digital queue, and but Tiana’s Bayou Journey ended up with one–and lengthy after the preliminary surge in demand had ended. Not solely that, however Check Monitor is utilizing a digital queue throughout CM and AP previews. That coupled with heightened demand for the preliminary reopening interval plus weather-induced downtime throughout storm season would possibly make Walt Disney World give consideration to utilizing a digital queue for Check Monitor.
Luckily, that’s not the case. Check Monitor 3.0 will use a standby line as soon as it reopens on July 22, 2025.
There’ll NOT be a digital queue for Check Monitor–it’ll both be ready within the common ole queue like each different attraction (proper now) at Walt Disney World, or line-skipping by way of the pay-to-play Lightning Lane system.
Phew. Walt Disney World eradicated digital queues largely to scale back confusion and friction, and fortunately, Check Monitor will not be going to be the attraction that causes that to alter. I’m relieved. I’d reasonably wait in a ~300 minute line on opening day if it involves that than have to write down one other treatise on digital queues.
The opposite massive improvement is that Check Monitor can be a part of Lightning Lane Multi-Cross when it reopens on July 22, 2025. It is going to NOT be a part of Lightning Lane Single Cross, that means it can’t be bought on an a la carte foundation. It’ll be a part of the ‘bundle’ possibility that options two tiers at EPCOT.
With Check Monitor returning, one other trip is being ‘downgraded’ from the highest tier. Right here’s what the lineup for Lightning Lane Multi-Cross at EPCOT appears like as of July 22, 2025:
Group A: Select as much as one expertise from this tier:
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Journey
- Check Monitor
Soarin’ Across the World
Group B: Select your different 2 experiences—or all 3—from this tier:
- Soarin’ Across the World
- Disney and Pixar Brief Movie Pageant
- Journey into Creativeness with Figment
- Residing with the Land
- Mission: SPACE
- The Seas with Nemo & Buddies
- Spaceship Earth
- Turtle Discuss with Crush
Whereas we had been fairly assured about Check Monitor 3.0 having a standby line versus a digital queue and Multi-Cross versus Single Cross, we had been far much less sure about Soarin’ Across the World being downgraded. That was the largest wildcard, which we considered as 50/50. If something, this is the massive information right here–not the ‘queue standing’ of Check Monitor 3.0.
Tes Monitor being prime tier isn’t an excessive amount of of a shock. Beneath the prior FastPass+ system, each Check Monitor and Frozen Ever After had been prime tier alternatives, as was Soarin’ Across the World. Remy’s Ratatouille Journey didn’t exist then, however the nighttime spectaculars (on the time) had been top-tier alternatives. That means that there’s really one fewer top-tier Lightning Lane (3 vs. 4), though three new rides have opened at EPCOT since FastPass+ was retired!
As a basic matter, EPCOT is nice at absorbing crowds…it’s simply gentle on headliner points of interest which can be a part of LLMP. That’s the issue with Lightning Lane Multi-Cross on a day with low to average crowd ranges–you received’t save sufficient time on the overwhelming majority of eligible points of interest to make the acquisition definitely worth the cash except you’re Park Hopping. On days with increased crowds, it’s possible you’ll not be capable of get a superb 4th decide as a result of the highest tier choices will all be gone.
Lightning Lane Multi Cross can also be arguably not definitely worth the time at EPCOT, as there’s a excessive chance that the line-skipping service will drive you to criss-cross the park reasonably than doing issues as you naturally arrive to them whereas navigating usually. Hopefully the pre-booking obviates this to some extent, nevertheless it can not presumably be excellent since you possibly can’t concurrently choose the three rides the place it’s wanted most.
As for the way this variation impacts the Lightning Lane Multi-Cross Trip Rankings at EPCOT, it’s going to offer a near-term increase to Check Monitor 3.0. That a lot is simple, as the brand new trip scent will take at the least a number of months to put on off.
It will proceed past summer season, particularly as the vacation season and now winter are well-liked instances for non-local followers to take journeys. We’d count on Check Monitor 3.0 to be the #1 Lightning Lane Multi-Cross decide at EPCOT by way of at the least March 2026 in consequence.
Long run, it really wouldn’t shock me if it maintains that spot. That is much less about Check Monitor 3.0 itself and whether or not the reimagined trip opinions nicely or is considered as higher than its predecessor. Truthfully, that doesn’t matter that a lot in the long run. Most of the people notion of this attraction is essentially predicated on the pace loop, which is unchanged.
As an alternative, that is extra about Check Monitor 3.0 being the one prime tier grownup trip in Lightning Lane Multi-Cross lineup versus two family-friendly points of interest. If solely Remy’s Ratatouille Journey or Frozen Ever After had been top-tier, both one could be the #1 decide–and pretty simply!
However as a substitute, they’re each there, forcing households to decide on between the 2. This successfully dilutes demand between the 2, and permits Check Monitor to hurry into the pole place by advantage of no in-class competitors. That is doubly true now that Soarin’ has been downgraded.
Accordingly, listed below are up to date Lightning Lane Multi-Cross Tier 1 rankings for EPCOT by way of 2026:
- Check Monitor
- Remy’s Ratatouille Journey
- Frozen Ever After
Talking of which, Soarin’ Across the World immediately turns into the plain #1 decide for second tier alternatives. It’s so clearly the runaway favourite that I wouldn’t be shocked if it turns into probably the most tough Lightning Lane to guide at EPCOT.
The underlying rationale for that is just like the above–there isn’t any different in-class competitors for the #1 second-tier Lightning Lane Multi-Cross attraction, so there’s nothing to dilute demand. Perhaps Residing with the Land in the course of the vacation season? In any other case, the overwhelming majority of LLMP purchasers are going to be making an attempt for Soarin’ Across the World.
It’ll be fascinating to see how this shakes out in apply, and whether or not Soarin’ Across the World turns into so aggressive that, even with Check Monitor again within the LLMP lineup, it nonetheless turns into powerful to justify the paid line-skipping possibility in the event you’re staying off-site. For on-site visitors, Lightning Lane Multi-Cross positively is extra engaging at EPCOT. This makes us extra inclined to buy it (shopping for on July 22 is a no brainer, however we’ll in all probability additionally get it this vacation season for our household journey–one thing we didn’t do final 12 months).
If you wish to skip line-skipping fully, seek the advice of our 1-Day EPCOT Itinerary, which covers how one can accomplish every little thing even in the event you’re staying off-site and don’t need to spend something additional. That additionally presents nice “zig once they zag” recommendation to flip the script on tackling World Showcase and the entrance half of the park.
For these staying on-site, the one factor we extremely advocate is Early Entry and Prolonged Night Hours. Check Monitor was beforehand a part of each these ‘additional hours’ at EPCOT lineups. There may be each motive to imagine it’ll be a part of each once more in due time.
Nevertheless, it’s attainable it received’t be a part of one or each lineups instantly. It appears unlikely that Check Monitor can be a part of Early Entry on July 22, and I’d in all probability wager in opposition to it being a part of Prolonged Night Hours on July 28, 2025. Neither are outdoors the realm of risk, I’d simply put them at underneath 50/50 odds. We’re nonetheless awaiting official affirmation on each.
The trip rosters for these choices are dictated by staffing and budgetary constraints, which is among the explanation why TRON Lightcycle Run is inexplicably nonetheless not a part of the Early Entry lineup at Magic Kingdom. (Though that excuse is sporting skinny.) That’s one other excessive case, although, and I wouldn’t wager on Check Monitor taking that lengthy to be added to the ‘additional hours’ lineups. My guess is that it occurs in August 2025.
Check Monitor’s reopening continues to be nearly a month away, so we might see all of this being squared away by then, nevertheless it wouldn’t shock us if it’s not. Check Monitor is basically wanted for each units of ‘additional hours,’ because the trip rosters for each are fairly skinny, and if even one attraction has downtime (as is commonly the case), it exacerbates wait instances elsewhere.
That is very true throughout Prolonged Night Hours at EPCOT in the course of the summer season months. That perk will be superior or terrible relying upon downtime and climate, and we’ve had some tough nights in August and September when ExEH is definitely worse than an everyday day at EPCOT. With Prolonged Night Hours shifting from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom beginning in July, it could be a pleasant little win to have Check Monitor again for the perk.
In the end, we (as soon as once more) advocate trying out Finest Time-Saving Methods for Walt Disney World, which is the results of in depth ‘testing’ to find out the most effective and worst methods to beat the crowds. One massive factor to notice is that the entire headliners at EPCOT are very unfold out. When utilizing Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, you would possibly have to do quite a lot of backtracking, which implies the time saved not ready in line will be greater than offset concerning the additional time spent strolling across the parks. We’ll be revisiting this information, together with Early Entry and Prolonged Night Hours technique, shortly after Check Monitor reopens (and is eligible for these additional hours).
If you’re not aware of the Lightning Lane Multi-Cross service or are already feeling misplaced, begin by seeing our Information to Lightning Lane Multi Cross & Single Cross at Walt Disney World for the entire foundational need-to-know data about this substitute without cost FastPass+. This complete system is complicated and convoluted, so that you may need a query or two-dozen. That solutions the entire commonest ones we’ve been receiving from readers.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited for the grand opening of Check Monitor? Glad that it’ll have standby line, or would you like a digital queue? What about Check Monitor getting Lightning Lane Multi-Cross standing versus Single Cross? Ideas on Soarin’ being downgraded to Tier B? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
